NORTHERN SEA ROUTE (NSR)

Key Points

• India-bound goods make up the majority of the cargo traffic at Murmansk Port, the NSR's starting point, which is increasing.
• About NSR:

• The North Sea Route (NSR) spans four seas of the Arctic Ocean: the Kara, Laptev, East Siberian, and Chukchi Sea. It is the shortest shipping route between Europe and countries in the Asia-Pacific area.
•  It is a 5,600-km route that starts in the Barents-Kara Seas border and ends at the Bering Strait (Provideniya Bay).

• Significance of NSR:

• Compared to the usual route via the Suez Canal, this path saves time and energy.
• Compared to the standard route through the Suez Canal, it is only a third of the distance.
• The risk of piracy is non-existent.
• Easier to explore, and exploit.

• Challenges:

• Geostrategic confrontation may result from Russia's NSR sovereignty and restriction of freedom of navigation.
•  Arctic fog can make sailing more difficult.
• threats to the pristine Arctic region's environment.

• India’s Engagement in NSR:

• The Chennai-Vladivostok Maritime Corridor (CVMC) project is a planned international container transit through the NSR between India and Russia.
•  In initiatives pertaining to the NSR, Russian and Indian enterprises worked together.

Must Check: IAS Coaching Centre In Delhi